What Are Halfway Houses?

Halfway houses are a part of the recovery process for the reintegration of persons released from a rehabilitation center or prison. Although taking up residence in a halfway house is entirely voluntary, it is often in the best interests of the person who is looking for a safe haven to regain his emotional and mental strength to face society again. Most halfway houses enforce strict guidelines regarding the activities and behavior of tenants, with curfews and testing regimens in place to help prevent a relapse.

History

• The term "halfway house" initially described a place where travelers on a journey between two places could stop. Later, this type of a facility came to be known as a "motor inn" or "motel." As usage of the name "halfway house" became less prevalent, it was adopted by those involved in the process of rehabilitation of drug addicts and lawbreakers. Today, the word commonly denotes a place for people on a journey towards normal integration with society.

Types

• Halfway houses are generally of two types, depending on the population to which they cater. Most halfway houses function on the concept of helping people recovering from drug and alcohol abuse by providing a clean environment where they can practice the abstinence techniques learned during de-addiction treatment. A few halfway houses serve to help criminal offenders in the process of transition from being a prisoner to a free citizen. These houses often provide close supervision and reintegration of inmates who may be on parole or probation, or offenders who are nearing the end of their sentence.

Purpose

• The environment in which an addict or alcoholic resides plays a significant role in determining his ability to avoid a relapse. Moving directly from a de-addiction center to home holds the risk of exposure to the old system of friends and situations that may have contributed to the problem in the first place. The purpose of a halfway house is to provide people with a brief period to gather their strength to overcome this desire. As they gain confidence, they gradually get back to normalcy by pursuing an education or employment with the approval of the halfway house staff.

Benefits

• Halfway houses have strict rules regarding abstinence and other behavior which tenants have to follow. This automatically means there is no access to "just one drink." Tenants are often required to attend meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous which aid in recovery. The support a person receives from someone else who is going through a similar process is often greater than what family or friends can provide. Halfway houses with their environment of normalcy also provide a respite from unhealthy relationships and living conditions that can trigger a relapse. Halfway houses sometimes provide social and job training along with counseling and therapy to help residents progress towards normalcy.